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CANBERRA, Feb 12 AAP

February 12 2013, 11:27AM

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd says the mining tax has not collected "any real revenue of any significance", as the government faces pressure to amend its design.

Crossbench MPs are urging the federal government to close loopholes in the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) including offsetting state royalties mining companies pay against their MRRT liabilities.

But the coalition says the tax, which raised only $126 million in its first six months of operation, should be scrapped as it damages business confidence.

Mr Rudd, who lost the Labor leadership in 2010 partly because he could not deliver the previous version of the mining tax, said any further changes were in the hands of Treasurer Wayne Swan and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

He attributed the format of the original mining tax to Mr Swan, who he said had "brought it to the relevant ministers of the government, including the then deputy prime minister (Ms Gillard) and myself".

"I think in terms of any future changes to the tax, given the fact that it hasn't collected any real revenue of any significance so far, that really is a matter for the prime minister and for the treasurer to consider and I will leave it with them," Mr Rudd told Sky News on Tuesday.

He said he was "unfamiliar" with the undertakings given to mining companies by Ms Gillard and Mr Swan when they negotiated the MRRT, but any changes would need to be mindful of these.

"My view has always been pretty basic," Mr Rudd said.

"These resources are owned by the Australian people ... (and) I believe the Australian people deserve, through an appropriate tax mix, an appropriate return.

"No government should ever take a backward step in pursuit of the national interest."

Ms Gillard on Monday told parliament the current GST distribution review, which is the subject of talks with the states, also was considering the issue of refunding state mining royalties.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says the government should show a "little bit of ticker" and be honest with the Australian people about any changes to its mining tax.

Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury ruled out any change to the MRRT, saying the government will continue to monitor the revenue receipts "as and when they come in".